Friday, October 29, 2010

With Election Day just a few days away, advertisers are looking into alternative mediums to place their political ads. While TV, cable and digital are the first choices for advertising action, over half of the agencies polled by STRATA say they are competing with political advertisers for space on TV, but with a finite amount of available space, many advertisers are putting their money in radio. That doesn't mean that more dollars are going into political this year. 58% say their political spend is about the same as it was during the 2008 political year and 36% say it's less than the last time around. Whatever radio gets from the spill-off might be too-little, too-late...The STRATA survey follows advertising trends from leading agencies across the country that indicate there has been a relapse in economic confidence. 33% of advertisers don't anticipate the economy and their businesses to return to a strong growth period until at least mid 2011 and 47% are seeing their clients keeping the same budget as last year. Moving 'Black Friday' up to Halloween Weekend is the ultimate test for retail to feel-out the economic climate. STRATA President/CEO John Shelton says "The economy is not recovering as quickly as originally projected. Even with the increase in political advertising, spending has been fairly stagnant this quarter." ...Some forecasters still expect radio to get as much as $250 million in election-related ads by the time the last vote is cast next Tuesday. Political polls indicate an impending shakeup in congressional leadership has some broadcasters optimistic, assuming the business climate will be better with Democrats out of power, but here's a warning from the National Association of Broadcasters' political action committee (NABPAC). NABPAC says there's a real threat of trouble in the lame duck session. Think trick, not treat for political spend...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1926] Last disappearing act:Harry Houdinidies from complications of a ruptured appendix at 52 on Halloween, no less (10/31)...2.1929] Cur-rash: "Black Tuesday" ushers in 'The Great Depression' as banks and stocks go belly up (10/29)...3.1938] War of the Worlds: H.G. Wells' epic is aired on "Mercury Theater on the air presents Orson Welles". Of the 6 million listeners, more than 1.7 million believed the fictional account of Martians invading New Jersey. Maybe they were looking for Jimmy Hoffa (10/30)...4.1940] Brrrrrrr there's a draft in here: The first peacetime military draft begins in the U.S. (10/29)...5.1941] What huge busts: Okay, get your mind off the female anatomy. Mount Rushmore is declared completed after 14 years of work. Sixty-foot busts of Washington, Jefferson, (Theodore) Roosevelt and Lincoln are finished and the landmark would soon open to the public (10/31)...6.1964] Natural History heist: Thieves make off with the Star of India and other gems from the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Tom Cruise is arrested immediately (10/29)...7.1974] Are you ready to rumble?: "The Rumble in the Jungle" is fought in Kinshasa, Zaire with Muhammad Ali beating George Foreman on a TKO in the 8th round (10/30)...8.1975] DROP DEAD!!!:That was the subtle headline on page one of the New York Daily News after President Gerald R. Ford says he would veto any proposed federal bailout of New York City. Yep, better to use the money on police body armor in Keokuk, Iowa any day (10/30)...9.1997] Convicted: A Cambridge (MA) jury convicts British au pair Louise Woodwardof second degree murder in the death of 8-month old Matthew Eappen. The judge later reduces the verdict to manslaughter and sets Woodward free. Who was the judge? Lance Ito??? (10/30)...10.2004] Osama sighting: Osama bin Ladenin a videotaped statement, directly admits for the first time, ordering the September 11 attacks. He tells America "the best way to avoid another Manhattan" is to stop threatening Muslims' security" (10/29)...

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The last thing the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) wants is government intervention in the royalty debate but their actions may be forcing the issue, according to POLITICO.com. After setting their own terms for a settlement in the dispute, the board of the NAB voted this week in favor of paying musicians a royalty fee for playing their music over the radio, but with provisions. The key provision is this: If Congress doesn't vote to force mobile phones to come equipped with radio tuners - a measure that the wireless and consumer electronic industries vehemently oppose - the size of the royalty fee would ultimately depend on the percentage of U.S. mobile phones with built-in radio tuners...

Last year, both the Senate and House Judiciary committees approved legislation that would force broadcasters to pay royalty fees. Lawmakers had asked broadcasters and the music industry to work out their own agreement and present it. So, did the NAB do their due dilligence before sending out their terms for an agreement? Apparently not. "With the NAB's action, Congress is the best venue right now to decide how the royalty rate will be decided," Tom Matzzie says on behalf of MusicFirst, although he didn't rule out continuing negotiations. Although congressional action isn't likely yet, it could happen. "At this point, unless there's some big breakthrough between the NAB and MusicFirst, I don't see Congress hammering this out in the lame-duck session," says David Kraut, Stifel Nicolaus analyst. "It's looking to me that it'll spill over to the next Congress and it could play out in a couple more Congresses." ...

In addition to the NAB, others favoring the association's plan is, to be honest - no one. MusicFirst is not, neither is the Consumer Electronics Association or wireless industry. Not only that, according to Kraut "I think there are probably some broadcasters that are not quite ready to sign on to this and the NAB needs some sweeteners to get over the hump." Of course, all of this could have been avoided by the NAB by discussing their plan with their opponents and compromising...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1636] Crimson & clover: Harvard College is founded in the Bay State. The first school of higher education was originally called "Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony"...2.1886] Lady Liberty: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland. The original name of the statue: "Liberty Enlightening The World." On the same date in 1936 the statue was rededicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on its 50th anniversary and in 1986 the centennial was celebrated...3.1950] Debuted on this date: "The Jack Benny Show" on CBS-TV. The show will run until August of 1977...4.1953] Musical chairs: The "Old Redhead", Red Barber, takes his "catbird seat" from Brooklyn to the Bronx to do play-by-play of Yankees games...1979] Dick Howser replaces Billy Martin as Yankees manager. This clip is a rare profile of mild-manered Howser...5.1961] Ground breaking: For Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows. Shea will open in 1964 when the World's Fair opens...6.1962] Joining the 7 TD club: Giants QB Y.A.Tittlebecomes the 3rd QB in the NFL (Sid Luckman and Adrian Burk were 1st & 2nd) to pass for 7 touchdowns in one game. It led the Giants to a 49-34 victory over the Washington Redskins..7.1973] Sayonara: Secretariat wins his final race in Canada, then goes to stud after 16 wins in 21 races. "Big Red" will live to the age of 19...8.1976] Up the river: Former Nixon presidential aide John Erlichman begins his sentence for Watergate related wrong-doings..9.1981] Comeback kids: The Dodgers come back from a 2-0 game deficit to beat the Yankees in 4 straight games to win the World Series. Yankee reliever George Frasier loses 3 games in the series...10.2007] Twice as nice: The Boston Red Sox win their 2nd World Series in 4 years as they sweep the Colorado Rockies in 4 games...

Music Memories:

1956] Number One on this date: "Love Me Tender" - Elvis Presley (replaces "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" after 11 weeks at the top of the charts as Elvis becomes the first artist to replace himself at #1)...1975] "Island Girl" - Elton John...

1971] Recorded on this date: "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon and Yoko Ono...

Commentary:

Ron Jacobs has written the ultimate chronicle of what it feels like to program a radio station. Ron takes you from the first day he walked into KHJ, to the glory days of one of America's most famous radio stations. You'll especially love the staff memos Jacobs includes in the book. For additional information on KHJ: Inside Boss Radio and accompanying CDs, click here...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

More than 25 million unique website visitors let their fingers do the walking to a radio station website in the past month. Those 25 million people represent 17.7% U.S. adult visits across 80 measured markets. The numbers are compliments of the Media Audit's National Radio Format Report which also reports that radio website visits have grown by 38% in only three years. In 2006, only 12.8% had visited a radio website in the past month. Most visitors are considered heavy or moderate listeners who listen to radio for almost three hours a day on average...Broken down by format preference, adult alternative listeners were most likely to visit a station website, followed by modern rock, sports and news-talk. Top metro markets for radio website visits are, in rank order: Minneapolis (25.4%), Orlando (22.1%), San Jose (21.4%), San Francisco (21.3%) and Seattle (21.3%)...While radio streaming increases reach, helping stations with poor signals, the ultimate goal is increased revenue. Many stations are still giving away web space as part of an ad package - a throw in. Until radio sells websites individually, it's nothing more than a moral victory -if that- to boast having more listeners. The trick is converting those additional listeners to dollars...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1858] But don't tell Gimbel's: Roland Macy opens a department store in Manhattan. It was Macy's 5th business venture - the other 4 failed...2.1904] The IRT: The 3rd rapid transit system in the world (London's was 1st, Boston was second) opens in New York City (it's called the IRT)...3.1954] 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E': Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggiocall it quits after marrying on January 14th...4.1964] Wedding Bells: Sonny & Cherrock down the aisle. Their marriage will end in divorce in 1975...5.1975] On the cover of:Bruce Springsteenappears on the covers of both TIME & Newsweek...6.1978] How noble: Anwar Sadat and Menachem Beginwin the Nobel Peace Prize for progress toward achieving a Middle East accord...7.1995] Up the river: Yolanda Saldivaris sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Latina singer Selena...8.1999] 'Happy Trails': Latin bandleader Xavier Cugatdies of heart failure at 90...9.2004] Joining the 700 club: Barry Bonds700th home run ball fetches $804,129 in an on-line auction. Steve Williams who came up with the ball in the bleachers on Sept. 17th announces he's quitting his job as a brokers assistant (Hello Fiji)...10.2004] Worth the wait: The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series title since 1918 by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games...

1960] Recorded on this date: "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand By Me" - Ben E. King...This clip has those two songs plus "Amor"...

Commentary:

The 30th Anniversary Rock-n-Bowl to benefit The Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program hits the lanes at Pinz in Studio City (CA) on Wednesday, November 17 from 7PM to 11PM. Download This Form To Register...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Now that the NAB has presented the music industry with a list of terms that radio can buy regarding a performance royalty - what's the response to it? In a word - it's mixed. It's been reported that two months after the first framework for a potential settlement was announced, the musicFirst Coalition won't rule out the changes proposed by the NAB Radio Board but they're not ruling it in either. The reason the NAB has issued its proposal now is to keep Congress from ruling on performance royalties. "NAB remains 100% opposed to performance fee legislation pending in Congress," NAB Radio Board chair Caroline Beasleysays. She adds, "However, in a good faith effort to resolve this issue in the best interests of both radio and the music industry, we have endorsed a solution ensuring a solution ensuring that broadcasters have a foothold in digital platforms of tomorrow." ...

Terms of the proposal include:

Permanent removal of the Copyright Royalty Board from rate-setting of transmissions of terrestrial on-air music or Internet streaming.

Resolution of the "AFTRA issue" outside of the legislative process by the musicFIRST coaltion that would facilitate simulcast of over-the-air radio commercials on the internet.

musicFIRST's acknowledgment and recognition of the unparalleled promotional value of terrestrial radio airplay.

Simplified airplay reporting requirements similar to the model used by ASCAP/BMI.

Congressionally-mandated radio-activated chips in mobile devices such as cell phones and BlackBerry smartphones, with an acceptable phase-in period and inclusion of HD Radio chips when economically feasible.

The Radio Board says that the performance fee would mirror the actual percentage of radio-activated mobile phones in the U.S. Once market penetration of radio-activated mobile devices reaches and maintains a level of 75% of all mobile devices, broadcasters agree to pay the full 1% terrestrial transmission performance fee...

Having worked on both sides of this issue, my educated guess is that this plan will have several revisions before it's finalized. Since the Copyright Royalty Board, AFTRA, musicFirst, chip, cellphone and smartphone manufacturers are included in the proposal, they'll have their say before this is all done. You can read the entire proposal terms here...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1965] Sir Beatles: The Beatlesreceive MBE (Member of the British Empire) honors at Buckingham Palace...2.1972] Peace and love man: National security adviser Henry Kissingerdeclares "peace is at hand" in Vietnam...3.1984] Baboon heart: A newborn with a severe heart defect is given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant. She will live 21 more days...4.1990] "Happy Trails": William S. Paley, founder of CBS, Inc. dies from kidney failure at 89...1994] One-man band, Wilbert Harrisonsuffers a fatal stroke at 65...5.1994] Passing the peace pipe: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan PM Abdel Salam Majalisign a peace treaty in a ceremony brokered by President Bill Clinton...6.1996] A clear jewell: Federal prosecutors clear Richard Jewellas a suspect in the Olympic park bombing in Atlanta...7.2001] Patriot Act: President George W. Bush signs the USA Patriot Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists...8.2002] Russian justice: A hostage siege by Chechen rebels at a Moscow theater ends with 129 of the 800 plus captives dead, most from a knockout gas used by Russian special forces who storm the theater...9.2004] Karzai elected: The final vote count in the Afghan presidential election gave a resounding victory to interim leader Hamid Karzai...10.2005] Fall Classic: The Chicago White Sox win their first World Series since 1917 by defeating Houston 1-0 in game 4...

Monday, October 25, 2010

Radio ad forecasters tell us the U.S. recovery is slower than most other markets because unemployment is "stubbornly high". Media Life reports that the U.S. will lag behind until unemployment falls substantially, making consumers and therefore advertisers, more confident about their future prospects but that's not stopping ZenithOptimedia and Magna Global. Both companies are more upbeat now than they were three months ago. Ad forecasters at those two giant ad agencies have both upped their U.S. outlook for 2010 - ZenithOptimedia to 2.2% (from 1.1%) with a gain of 2.4% in 2011. Magna Global is even more optimistic, putting 2010 spending including political and Winter Olympics at 4.1% (from 3.4%) but only predicts growth of 1.9% in 2011. Forecasters say there's a reason that 2010 is turning out better than expected...Advertisers have committed a lot more money than expected to sporting events around the world. The Super Bowl, Vancouver Olympics, soccer World Cup in South Africa and strong corporate profits have allowed many to invest more in their core brands. Mid-term elections and Winter Olympics are providing a nice boost to spend this year but just wait until 2012 when we have a presidential election and summer Olympics, say the experts. 2011 is looking stronger than it did three months ago, but the rapid growth this year means that growth rates will remain roughly stable in the U.S. and fall back slightly worldwide...To those small-market stations trying to save a buck, comes this warning from ad agencies. While cancelling your rating service is a short-term cost-cutting move, you could get a long-term negative impact. Not only will prospective accounts assume you're not doing well, you also project a negative image to ad agencies...10 Timeline Memories:1.1962] Hell freezes over: In one of the most dynamic speech's of all-time, Adlai Stevenson, addressing the U.N. demands that Russian ambassador Zorin explain the presence of missiles in Cuba, saying "I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over". Simply brilliant!!!2.1964] Turn around, look at me: Viking Jim Marshall, a good player but lacking a good sense of direction, runs 66 yards in the wrong direction after picking up a fumble, costing the Vikes a 2-point safety...3.1981] World Series Memories: In one of the more bizarre George Steinbrenner moments, "The Boss" claims that he broke his hand in an elevator fight in L.A. during the 1981 World Series. Although the Yankees win the first two games at Yankee Stadium, they get swept in Los Angeles and then back home, "handing" the series to LA...4.1986] More Fall Classics: Bill Buckner happens as the Mets beat the Red Sox and go on to win the World Series in game 7...2003] The Marlins' Josh Beckett pitches Florida to the World Series title with a 2-0 shutout of the Yankees. Beckett tags (hip, hip) Jorge Posada on the tush for the final out...5.1990] Strike Out: The New York Daily News goes on strike. The strike will last until March, 1991...6.1991] 'Happy Trails': Rock promoter Bill Grahamis killed in a helicopter crash at 60...7.1994] Guilty as charged:Susan Smithclaims that a carjacker drove off with her two sons but later confesses to drowning them. She will be convicted of murder and sentenced to life (a term she's now serving)...8.1999] Deadly golf crash: Colorful golf pro Payne Stewartand 5 others die in a Learjet crash in South Dakota. Stewart was 42...9.1996] How do you mend a broken heart?: Joe Torre's brother Frankreceives a heart transplant during the 1996 World Series. Frank is living a healthy life and will be 79 in December...10.2003] Winner, spelled B-o-w-d-e-n: Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden becomes the winningest, dad-gum coach in major college football history with his 339th victory as his Seminoles beat Wake Forest 48-24. Bowden will total 389 wins before retiring - 377 wins in Division 1 play, finishing second to Joe Paterno's 397...

The countdown for the Tampa Bay Radio Reunion has begun. If you plan to attend and haven't RSVP'd, do it now. The reunion is set for Saturday, November 6 at the Hula Bay Club in Tampa. Festivities get underway at 2PM. RSVP Sandy Hall at swoodworth@embargmail.com or call 813-205-5247. If you missed last year's reunion, you missed a good one...so pass along the info and come swap lies and have a few brews...

Friday, October 22, 2010

Pandora founder Tim Westergren is so devoted to capturing the in-car listening war that he calls it "the holy grail." "Simply put, half of radio listening happens in the car. People spend 20 hours a week listening to music; 17 hours of that is from radio. About half of that radio listening, or 8.5 hours, occurs while they're in a car. So that's the holy grail." Westergren makes it no secret what the number one goal of the music service is: "We're actively developing products with car manufacturers and after-market stereo companies such as Pioneer and others. We're already working with Ford, Mercedes and other companies that we can't talk about now. Our goal is to be in every new car that rolls off the manufacturing line." ...

In an enlightening interview with the L.A. Times, Westergren says that "half of the 20 million people who have Pandora on their iPhones use it in the car. We can't promote that kind of usage because of the safety concerns involved when you're driving and trying to control your phone at the same time. So the future is being able to control Pandora right from your steering wheel." Now if that's not a campaign for Oprah, what is? Oprah can follow her "no texting while driving" campaign with "no Pandora listening on iPhones while driving." ...

In addition to carelessly listening to iPhones in cars for their Pandora fix, "Pandora can also be heard on 200 unique devices now, from Blu-ray players to flat-screen TVs. The average user spends five hours a day listening from those devices. It's a growing category for us" says Westergren. Westergren is a smart guy - he provides for Pandora what Mel Karmazin provides for Sirius XM and that's real leadership. Pandora is only one of three major radio/music service groups (w/CBS Radio & NPR) offering an app targeting the iPad consumer. This at a time when Apple has sold 4.2 million iPads and is becoming a major radio listening post...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1931] Say hello to the George: The George Washington Bridge connecting Manhattan and New Jersey opens to the public (10/24)...2.1956] Debuted on this date: NBC-TV broadcasts the first video tape coast-to-coast. It's a tape of Jonathan Wintersperforming (10/23)...3.1962] JFK tells all: President John F. Kennedy addresses a TV audience about the Russian missile bases in Cuba and the world will hold its collective breath until the missiles are removed and the crisis ends (10/22)...4.1972] 'Happy Trails': Severe heart problems take their toll of Jackie Robinsonwho passes away at 53 (10/24)...2005] American civil rights activist Rosa Parksdies in her Detroit apartment at 92 (10/24)...5.1973] Dead air: President Richard M. Nixon agrees to turn over the Watergate tapes as the clock ticks (10/23)...6.1979] Opening the door: The U.S. government allows the deposed Shah of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment (10/22)...7.1983] Beirut blast: A suicide truck bombing at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon kills 241 U.S. Marines and sailors. Another attack kills 58 French paratroopers (10/23)...8.1986] Chopper down: WNBC traffic reporter Jane Dornacker is killed while doing traffic reports. Her chopper goes down in the Hudson River (10/22)...9.1998] Sniper attack: Dr. Barnett Slepian, an abortion doctor was killed at his home in suburban Buffalo when a sniper fired through his kitchen window. James Koppis convicted of the murder and is serving 25-to-life in prison (10/23)...10.2009] A show business legend is lost: Soupy Salespasses away from cancer at the age of 83 (10/22)...

An R&R Alumni Party will be held Saturday, November 6 at the Cellar Bar & Grill in Century City, CA. Admission is $25 before November 5, $30 at the door. Festivities will begin at 7PM at the bar at 1880 Century Park East. Our good friends who worked at the radio & records bible - for all or part of its 36 years of existence should contact NancyHoff20@yahoo.com ...On a serious note: we were sorry to hear about the losses of Bob Guccione (Penthouse) and Buffalo radio mainstay, Boom Boom Brannigan...

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Trust in radio and television has returned, according to a new study by Audio Graphics and that trust spreads across all age groups. Only two years ago social network websites were the top source of trust with a whopping 45.7% while TV and radio stood at 7.3% among 12-44 year olds and the numbers were worse among 45-55+ year olds - 54.2% to 6.03%. When questioned about trust in sources of information on October 1, 2010, respondents trusted social networks most by 42.4% with radio and television at 31.6% among 12-44 year olds and those numbers are 53.6% and 26.4% among 45-55+ year olds respectively. So why did those numbers change in just two years???

Ken Dardis, Audio Graphics president offers this opinion: "In 2008 people were coming out of the internet's early learning curve. Survey respondents were from internet radio's audience (who commonly show a higher understanding of "tech"), and they were beginning to feel competent online like the general public. Social networks were still very new - and praised with promise. Expectations were high (think buzz of podcasts in 2004). Over the course of two years, many online actions have now become intuitive to a much larger portion of the population. Not only have the wonders of the internet been seen, but the warts of privacy invasion and advertising saturation have caused the net to lose some luster. People also now know that there is a large amount of garbage content online. Enter the familiar - TV and radio...

Dardis says his new survey (Survey 50) shows trust is returning to radio and TV. Industry executives should not let it slip away again. I say - what he said...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1879] Lighting the way: Thomas Edison invents a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park (NJ)...2.1945] Wedding Bells: Argentine military officer and politician Juan Peron marries actress Evita...3.1959] Crazy Guggenheim: The Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright opens to the public...4.1973] Lending an ear: John Paul Getty III's ear is cut off by kidnappers and sent to a newspaper in Rome. It doesn't arrive until November 8 with postage due...5.1973] Safety first and second: Fred Dryerof the Los Angeles Rams becomes the first and last player in the NFL to score two safeties in a 24-7 win over Green Bay...6.1975] Waving it fair: Carlton Fiskwins Game 6 of the World Series between the Red Sox and Reds with his dramatic homerun and cool body language...7.1988] Guilty as charged: A federal grand jury in New York indicts former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imeldaon charges of fraud, racketeering and owning too many shoes...8.1992] Released on this date: Madonna's erotic photo book "Sex" is released with 500,000 copies sold in the first run. A-Rod buys 499,999 copies...9.1998] Getting out the broom: Following a 4-game sweep of San Diego in the World Series, the Yankees set a major league record of 125 wins for a regular and post-season combined...10.2003] Plugged In: Invoking a hastily-passed law, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush orders a feeding tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman at the center of a bitter right-to-die battle...

It's the best inside operational radio book I've ever read. The book is KHJ: Inside Boss Radio. Ron Jacobs has written an ultimate chronicle of what it feels like to program a radio station. Ron takes you from the first day he walked into KHJ, to the glory days of one of the most famous radio stations of all-time. I especially love the staff memos he includes in the book. For additional information on the book and accompanying CDs, click here...

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A new survey of buyers says there's been a "relapse" in confidence about the economic recovery yet the study by STRATA reports that there's no barrier to digital buys. For the first time since their digital surveys started, the majority of agencies are saying they see no obstacle to increasing digital spending. In the previous survey, they said lack of advertiser demand was the largest obstacle. More than 80% of agencies said in the Q3 survey that they are focusing more on digital this year than last year - up 17% from the Q1 survey...

Agencies are most likely to use Google and Yahoo (81%) when they buy digital but radio, print and TV sites are getting business too. In dollars, search engines get 79.4% of online ad spending, while social media brings in 65.1% and news websites are third at 36.5%. Within social media, Facebook alone brings in 87.9% of dollars spent. The Q3 survey also found that ad agencies are not optimistic about the economy in the short term. Thirty-three percent of those polled don't anticipate strong growth for the economy or their own businesses until at least the middle of 2011 and 47% see clients keeping the same budgets as last year...

A new Borrell Associates study "gauges mobile-proximity-based advertising at $200 million this year, swelling to $760 million in 2011 and springing to $6 billion by 2015. Almost 97% of the expenditures, however, is likely to be placed by national chains, not by smaller local businesses. An interesting phenomenon is that one-third of smartphone users who access retail information on their devices are generally unreachable by any other medium - newspapers, yellow pages, radio or TV. With more and more people staring into small screens as they shop, could this foretell that mobile devices might be the most powerful way to influence wallet-ready consumers?"...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1944] 'I Shall Return': Those were the words uttered by General Douglas MacArthur when he stepped ashore in the Philippines, 2 1/2 years after he made the famous quote...2.1968] Wedding Bells: Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedymarries Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis...3.1973] Nixon cans Cox: Special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Coxis fired by President Richard Nixon. Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resign in protest...4.1976] No more house calls in New York: The Nets sell Julius "Dr. J" Ervingto the Philadelphia 76ers...5.1977] Rock & Roll tragedy: Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd(Steve Gaines, 28, Cassie Gaines, 29, and Ronnie Van Zant, 29) die in the crash of a chartered plane near McComb (MS)...6.1979] JFK remembered: The John F. Kennedy Library opens in Boston...7.1992] The World Series in Canada, eh?: In the first WS game to be played outside the U.S., Toronto beats Atlanta 3-2. Toronto will win the series...8.2004] Down but never out: The Red Sox come from a 3 game deficit to win 4 straight over the Yankees to win the AL pennant. They go on to win the World Series too...9.2004] Chipped: U.S. Army staff sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederickpleads guilty to helping plan the deadly U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998 that killed 224 including 12 Americans...10.2005] The defense rests forever: A defense lawyer in Saddam Hussein'smass murder trial is abducted from his office and found murdered hours later...

Music Memories:

1955] Live from Brooklyn High School in Cleveland: Bill Haley & the Comets and Elvis Presley perform on the same bill at Brooklyn High School near Cleveland. This is what Elvis was singing in 1955 - this is what Bill Haley probably played that night...

1978] Debuted on this date: The Police debut at CBGB's. It's the band's first U.S. concert. They came back in '79...

Commentary:

Tom Bosley, 83, died on Tuesday morning (10-19) following a long battle with lung cancer. Bosley was best known for playing "Mr. C.", Howard Cunningham on "Happy Days." In addition to enjoying a long career on television in such shows as "Father Dowling Mysteries" and the "Hallmark Hall of Fame", Bosley was one of the most sought-after voice-over announcers...Join host Marla Sitten and award-winning songwriters Dave Gibson, Wynn Varble and Chris Wallin for a fall songwriting seminar at Jim Oliver's Smoke House in beautiful Monteagle, Tennessee, November 5 - 7, 2010. Visit TheSmokeHouse.com for additional information...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The people who know - call them political spend analysts, have television receiving $3 billion or more during this highly charged political season, which officially ends on November 2, two weeks from today. This would be a record breaker in terms of political spend for television. Radio will not be breaking any records but there has been an increase in political advertising in the last week. This typically happens as we near election day, according to analysts. That's when politics goes to the bullpen for radio...

According to RBR the hot political markets for radio include: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Orlando and San Francisco. Beyond that top 5 ranking are smaller markets like Sacramento, Hartford, Columbus (OH) and West Palm Beach. The greatest weekly change in percentage of market revenue ranking has these top 5 markets: Tallahassee, Panama City, Wausau, La Crosse and Wilkes Barre...It should be noted that broadcast TV typically receives 60% of all political ad dollars and normally 75% of political advertising comes in the 7 to 8 weeks leading up to the elections. With so many big elections coming up and such hot issues on the ballot, radio hopes to get a bigger political runoff from television than it usually does...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1873] Football rules: Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Rutgers universities draft the first code of American football rules. Rule number one: outscore your opponent...2.1960] Cuba banned: The United States imposes an embargo on exports to Cuba. All that stuff is about to go by the wayside - a good thing especially if it means getting Cuban cigars...3.1969] Effete feat: VP Spiro T. Agnewcalls anti-Vietnam protesters "an effete corps of impudent snobs" which is better than a "nattering nabobs of negativism" I think...4.1973] Tapes, what tapes?: President Richard Nixon rejects an Appeals Court demand to turn over the Watergate tapes...5.1977] Psst, it's the SST: The supersonic Concorde makes its first landing in New York City, shattering windows at Archie Bunker's house...6.1987] Stock market crash: The Dow Jones plunges 508 points or 22.6 percent, its second biggest percentage drop...7.2002] Washington sniper strikes again: A 37-year old man is seriously wounded outside a steakhouse in Ashland (VA) in the latest attack by the Washington-area sniper...8.2004] The bloody sock: Curt Schilling, bloody sock and all, pitches the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Yankees, setting up a winner-take-all game 7 for the ALCS showdown. The Sox win the World Series that year...9.2004] Baghdad bullies strike: Insurgents in Iraq abduct Margaret Hassan, the local director of CARE International from her car in Baghdad. Hassan is later murdered by her captors...10.2005] Defiant till the end: Saddam Husseinpleads innocent to charges of premeditated murder and torture at his trial in Baghdad...

Commentary: Time is running out to RSVP Sandy Hall if you're planning to attend the Tampa Bay Radio Reunion on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Sandy's email address: swoodworth@embargmail.com or you may call her: 813-205-5247. The reunion will start at 2PM. And remember what Tedd Webb says: "If you missed it last year, you missed a good one. Come swap some lies and have a few brews." ...

Friday, October 15, 2010

Pandora must have seen the new National Retail Federation prediction that this year - holiday spending will be up 2.3% over 2009. The pureplay internet giant, having already made their list and after checking it twice, aren't waiting for Christmas to dispense their goodies. Pandora is already offering gift subscriptions to its ad-free Pandora One premium service for $36 a year. Pandora One has unlimited streaming and better-quality sound than the free, ad-supported version. The $36 present will give what Pandora hopes is the gift that keeps on giving after holiday recipients have sampled their product for a year...

Pandora founder Tim Westergren says "We've been excited about this for a long time. It's the perfect gift for any occasion. Now you can give someone a year's worth of great personalized music for a very low price. We anticipate the new Pandora gifting to be popular not only during the upcoming holiday season, but for all occasions where people are searching for that perfect, personalized gift to give." The gift-giving is done by email or scheduled up to a year in advance...

Greg Clausen, executive vice president of Doner would suggest that Westergren picked a good time to dispense his yearly subscription gifts. Clausen recently told Media Life "Based on fourth quarter media pricing we've seen, I think spending will be up more than 2.3%, just because media pricing is so strong right now. A lot of advertisers, I think, are holding back spending until political is done, making for a narrower window." He also said "I think spending in fourth quarter will be up a pretty solid clip." Good news indeed for Tim Westergren...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1951] Premiered on this date: "I Love Lucy" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. This all-time classic will run 10 original seasons and in re-run forever (10/15)...1959] "The Untouchables" starring Robert Stack (let's not forget the narration by Walter Winchell). The original series only runs for 4 seasons (10/15)...1973] "The Tomorrow Show" with Tom Snyder debuts (10/15)...2.1954] Bad call-letter move: WNBC Radio changes calls to WRCA but not for long. The call-letters will soon revert back to good ole WNNNNNBC (10/18)...3.1962] One picture is worth a thousand words: Reconnaissance photos reveal missile bases in Cuba (10/16)...4.1962] Series Saver: Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardsongrabs Willie McCovey's line drive for the final out as the Bronx Bombers win their 20th World Series over the SF Giants in 7 games (10/15)...5.1965] That's fair: The 1964-1965 World's Fair closes after two years. More than 51 million people attended, including this WMID jock who did a remote back to Atlantic City for two days with music and commercials from the New York State Pavilion via phone line (10/17)...6.1969] Truly Amazin': The New York Mets win their 1st World Series as a harmless fly ball hit by future Mets manager Davey Johnson drops into Cleon Jones' glove: Everyone in the programming dept. at WRKO watched the game in VP/GM Perry S. Ury's office (10/16)...7.1977] Reggie-Reggie-Reggie: Reggie Jacksonmakes World Series history with back-to-back-to-back home runs, each on the first pitch. No one did it before or since (10/18)...8.1987] Baby Jessica: Rescuers free 'Baby Jessica'(McClure) from the Midland (TX) well she fell in. Jessica, 18-months old, was trapped for 58 hours yet survived (10/16)...9.2003] Ferry disaster: A Staten Island Ferry slams into a maintenance pier, killing 11 (10/15)...10.2008] "Happy Trails": Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops dies in his sleep at 72 (10/17)...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The full internet impact hasn't been felt yet but it's getting there. Take the results of a new study released by Digital Life for example, which finds that 61% of people worldwide use the internet daily, compared to 54% for television, 36% for radio and 32% for newspapers. When people find a relatively new medium like the internet, advertisers will find those people and look for more of them by advertising. That's exactly what happened in the first half of 2010. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) reports that internet advertising reached a record high $12.1 billion in the first six months of the year. That figure is up 11.3% from the same period in 2009...

IAB President/CEO Randall Rothenberg says "Consumers' appetite for immersive online experience is limitless as technological innovation and creativity give rise to new forms of entertainment and information and the digital age. This report highlights marketers' ongoing adoption of interactive media to build brands - and that's only going to continue." Search advertising still gets the largest percentage of overall interactive spending (47%) for the first half of the year. Search brought in more than $5.7 billion, up 11.6% from the first half of 2009. Display advertising in the form of banners, rich media and digital video, and sponsorships - added up to more than $4.4 billion in H1 2010, up 16% from 2009 and digital video saw record growth, up 31% year-over-year...While internet advertising is on pace for its best year ever and revenue is up 14% compared to one year ago for a first half-year record of $12.1 billion, the radio industry revenue gain for the same half-year period is $8.2 billion for a 6% gain...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1926] Published on this date: "Winnie-the-Pooh" written by A.A. Milne...2.1947] Breaking barriers: Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeagerbecomes the 1st person to break the sound barrier...3.1960] Peace be with you: Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedysuggests formation of a Peace Corps during a speech at the University of Michigan...4.1962] Crisis begins: The Cuban Missile Crisis begins and won't end until November 20th. The world walks a nuclear tightrope...5.1964] Peace prize: Martin Luther King Jr. wins the Nobel Peace Prize...6.1973] The Hall of Fame awaits: Willie Maysgets his last hit as the Mets beat the Oakland A's in game 2 of the World Series, which Oakland will win...7.1977] "Happy Trails": Bing Crosbyis the victim of a fatal heart attack at 74...1990] Leonard Bernstein, a heavy smoker, dies at 72 of emphysema...8.1979] You say hello and I say goodbye: Wayne Gretzkyof the Edmonton Oilers scores the first of his NHL record 894 goals in a home game against Vancouver...1985] Joe Namath's#12 is retired as the Jets beat Miami 23-7 on Monday Night Football...9.1984] Sparking both leagues: Detroit Tiger manager Sparky Andersonbecomes the 1st manager to win 100 games and a World Series in both leagues...10.2003] Guilty as charged: John Allen Muhammadpleads innocent to murder in the Washington-area sniper case. He is later convicted and sentenced to death...

Commentary:The Tampa Bay Radio Reunion is set for Saturday, November 6, 2010. Please RSVP to Sandy Hall at swoodworth@embargmail.com or call 813-205-5247. Sandy is looking for a headcount for the reunion. Tedd Webb adds that "If you missed it last year, you missed a good one, so pass along the info and come swap lies and have a few brews." The reunion will start at 2 PM...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

There are just too many bounces in PPM (Portable People Meter) radio numbers. For years radio has depended on consistency when being measured but it's not always getting it now with far too many spikes from rating period to rating period. Arbitron is determined to eliminate those bounces with new company rules. Under existing rules, almost 20% of a market's PPM panel could turn over during a three-month period, causing wide rating swings from month-to-month but that's about to change, according to Arbitron. Starting with the November survey, Arbitron will use new sample expiration rules intended to smooth out the turnover...Arbitron's new rules are expected to be applied in all PPM markets by March, 2011. All initially selected samples will expire between 18 and 30 months under the new rules as opposed to expiring between 18 months and 36 months under the current plan with the maximum panel tenure after the initial build period set at 24 months. "Once we've spread out that turnover from the initially selected sample, ongoing sample will expire between 18 and 24 months, so we'll continue to smooth out the turnover" Arbitron's Beth Webb says. "You won't get a three-month period where there's a huge turnover in the panel. this will help the stability of the estimates in that period." ...Arbitron's old rules "were creating a spike in turnover right around 24 months after a panel was filled. As we improved compliance, people were staying in the panel longer." Webb adds that many were remaining for the full 24 months after the sample build, resulting in a large number being replaced simultaneously, creating a lot of turnover in the panel all at once, which creates increased variance in the estimates." That should all end now under the new Arbitron rules...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1775] Fleet's in: The Continental Congress orders the construction of a naval fleet for the U.S...2.1843] The birth of the B'rith: The B'nai B'rith is founded in New York City...3.1903] First World Series: The Boston Americans (Red Sox) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 to win the first WS five games to three...4.1960] Debatable: Richard M. Nixon and JFK hold their 3rd televised presidential debate with Nixon in Hollywood and Kennedy in New York...5.1960] The Walk-Off is born: The Pirates' Bill Mazeroskihits the 1st walk-off home run in World Series history as Pittsburgh wins the series over the Yankees...6.1970] "Happy Trails": Janis Joplin'sashes are scattered off the coast of California...1974] Ed Sullivandies from cancer at 73...7.1985] Wrap & Roll: Cardinal rookie Vince Colemanis injured prior to the NLCS when he's caught in Busch Stadium's automatic tarp. The Cardinals would go on to win the NL pennant but lose to KC in the World Series...8.1996] Here's the kicker: Jet kicker Nick Lowerybreaks Jan Stenerud's NFL field goal record with his 374 field goal...9.1998] Locked out: The NBA cancels 32 games as a result of a lockout of players...10.1999] Not so grand: The JonBenet Ramseygrand jury is dismissed after 13 months when there's not enough evidence to charge anyone in the 6-year old's strangulation death...

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Global ad spend continued to grow as the economy improved in the first half of 2010, according to a new report from The Nielsen Company. First half advertising for all media spending grew 3.8% and that growth was fueled by a 27% increase in automotive spending, thanks mostly to General Motors which was up a phenomenal 73% over the first half of 2009. Ford and Toyota also grew their ad spending by 15% and 22% respectively. An increase of 82% for UAW Health Care Trust contributed to the first half growth in the auto insurance category. In all, auto insurance was up 22.62%. All other categories, except department stores (+5%) and restaurants (+2%) showed declines in the first six months of the year..."Advertisers spent as estimated $54 billion during the the first half of 2010. The increase in U.S. advertising reflects a modest improvement in U.S. consumer confidence in the first half of the year, as advertisers look to highlight value deals and increase promotions in the hopes of spurring consumer spending" says Nielsen. They also issue this heads-up: "Confidence is still well below pre-recessionary levels, automotive was one of only a few bright spots in the top 10 product category ad spending." It should also be noted that in the first half of 2010, network radio was up only 0.61% from the first half of 2009. Spot radio was down 2.23% year-over-year in the first half of 2010...Newly-released Media Monitors numbers show Geico as radio's top national advertiser today, Home Depot placed second and Satellite Auto Glass, Rite Aid & McDonald's rounded out the top 5...

10 Timeline Memories: 1.1492] Lost and Found: Christopher Columbusreaches the New World when he sights a Bahamian Island believing he has reached East Asia. Hey I get lost trying to find aisle 8 in Food Emporium...2.1892] Pledging our love: The Pledge of Allegiance written by Francis Bellamy is first recited in unison by students in U.S. public schools...3.1960] Put an egg in that shoe and beat it: Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchevdisrupts a U.N. General Assembly session by pounding the podium with a shoe during a dispute...4.1967] Fall Classic: The 'Impossible Dream' ends. Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborgmakes a valiant attempt to pitch on two days rest but loses game 7 of the Boston-St. Louis World Series. Final score 7-2 Cardinals. I was at that game, played at Fenway Park...5.1971] "Happy Trails": Gene Vincentdies from a ruptured stomach ulcer at 36...1997] John Denveris killed in a plane crash when he runs out of fuel. Denver was 53...1999] Basketball Hall Of Famer Wilt Chamberlaindies in his sleep of a heart attack at 72...6.1973] Nixon picks a Ford: President Richard Nixon nominates House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford(R-Mich) to succeed Spiro T. Agnew as VP. Agnew goes on a search for 'nattering naybobs of negativism.'...7.1998] Tragic death: Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, dies five days after he was beaten, robbed and left tied to a wooden fence post...8.1999] The day of six billion: The proclaimed 6 billionth living human in the world is born. This link to the World Clock will give you the latest total population up to the millisecond...9.2000] Death on a destroyer: Two suicide bombers in an explosives-laden boat ram into the destroyer the USS Cole in Yemen. 17 sailors are killed...10.2007] Keeping the peace: Former VPAl Goreand the U.N.'s Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change wins the Nobel Peace Prize for sounding the alarm over global warming...

Monday, October 11, 2010

It's only Columbus Day but it's not too early to talk about the holidays. It's already Thanksgiving in Canada and while Halloween is still 3 weeks away in the U.S., the holiday season is being scoped out by the National Retail Federation. The NRF projects a 2.3% rise in holiday sales following better-than-expected retail numbers in September. Victoria's Secret, Macy's/Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus & Saks are all up as a new macroeconomic report tracking national retail and service sales, indicates a rise in total U.S. apparel sales of 3.8% in September compared to August, and a 4.3% rise in consumer electronic sales. All signs point to a substantial increase in holiday advertising this season for radio...While retail growth remains slightly lower than the 10-year holiday sales increase of 2.5%, the NRF notes it would be a marked improvement from both last year's 0.4% rise and the 3.9% holiday sales decline retailers experienced in 2008. NRF president Matthew Shay is a bit more guarded than most retail forecasters: "Though the retail industry is on stronger footing than last year, companies are closely watching key economic indicators before getting too optimistic that the recession is behind them." ...

Better-than-expected retail sales bodes well for radio's continued recovery and an increase in holiday advertising looks like a good bet. It's the best Christmas present radio can get...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1967] Friendly Fenway: The Red Sox beat the Cardinals 8-4 in game 6 of the World Series with back-to-back-to-back home runs by Yaz, Reggie Smith & Rico Petrocelli, to force game 7 of the WS and make this blogger, in attendance, very happy. Then came game 7...2.1968] Lift off: Apollo 7 is launched with Wally Schirra, Don Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard. It's the first time live television broadcasts were received from space...3.1971] Curtains: Hugh Downsleaves the "Today Show" and "Concentration". He will later resurface as host of ABC-TV's "20/20" ("we're in touch, so you be in touch")...4.1975] Wedding Bells: Hillary Rodham(R) switches party affiliation when she marries Bill Clinton (D)...5.1975] Live from New York: George Carlin hosts the first "Saturday Night Live" with musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston. This is John Belushi'sscreen test for the show...6.1984] 1st woman spacewalker: American Kathryn D. Sullivanaboard the Challenger, becomes the first woman to walk in space...7.1991] Hill v. Thomas: Anita Hillaccuses Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in 'must see TV' for the masses...8.1992] A 3-ring circus: George Bush (41), Bill Clinton and Ross Perot conduct the first 3-way presidential debate...9.2002] How nobel: Former President Jimmy Carterwins the Nobel Peace Prize...10.2006] Tragedy on 72nd Street: Yankees relief pitcher Corey Lidle, 34, and his co-pilot/instructor Tyler Stanger die when their small plane crashes into the 40th floor of a 50 floor hi-rise in Manhattan. Pilot error was ruled. I saw the aftermath of the crash, located less than a mile from here...

The Tampa Bay Radio Reunion is set for Saturday, November 6, 2010. Please RSVP to Sandy Hall at swoodworth@embargmail.com or call 813-205-5247. Sandy needs a headcount for the reunion. Tedd Webb adds that if you missed it last year, you missed a good one, so pass along the info and come swap lies and have a few brews. The reunion will start at 2 PM...

About Me

Mel Phillips Now & Then is more Now. The Then always follows the Now. Prior to starting 'Remembers' in 2005 and 'Now & Then' on April 7, 2008 I enjoyed a multi-media career which included being one of the Bill Drake program directors. I was involved in the programming of such legendary stations as WOR-FM, WXLO-FM, WNBC, WRKO AM & FM and KQV. I was also General Manager of Hooper Radio, played disc jockey in markets such as Tampa, Nashville, Norfolk and Atlantic City and enjoyed marketing success in syndicated radio for several companies including ABC, MJI and United Stations. My background also includes the music business where I promoted such diverse CBS acts as The Clash, Gloria Estefan, Loverboy, Judas Priest, George Michael & Julio Iglesias. In Special Programming at WCBS-FM I wrote and produced numerous specials and interviewed some of the biggest recording stars. In addition to this post I'm a regular contributor to Radio Daily News. My wife Diane and I reside on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and I'm very proud of my children, Robert Phillips, Lynn Phillips Brough and granddaughters Allyson and Amy...